Legal Column

Korea Visa & Permit Insights

Practical guidance on Korean visas, immigration, business licenses, permits, and administrative procedures.
* General information; not legal advice for specific cases.

KR EN

Other

Ethos Administrative Office Is Now Registered as a Ministry of Justice Immigration Application Agency

Ethos Administrative Office is now registered as a Ministry of Justice immigration application agency. For eligible immigration matters such as visa extension, change of status, supplementary document submission, and document collection, working with a registered agency can reduce appointment delays, repeated visits, and procedural risk.

8/22/2026

FoldersAll 중동 (9)공지사항 (3)

All Visa & Residency (43)Administrative Appeal (21)Contracts & Fact-finding (18)Licensing & Permits (38)Company Formation (12)Other (12)

Other

Connecting Foreign Visas, Corporate Setup, Investment, and Legal Support — Ethos × Insight Law Firm Partnership

Ethos Administrative Office has entered into a partnership with Insight Law Firm to provide more structured support for complex matters involving foreign visas, corporate establishment, investment, contracts, and legal review. Through this collaboration, Ethos will help connect administrative, immigration, documentation, and legal issues for companies and individuals moving between Korea and the Middle East with the appropriate professionals.

#외국인비자#출입국#법인설립

8/18/2026

Visa & Residency

[Foreign Employment Contracts and the E-7 Visa ⑦] Can a Company with Fewer Than Five Korean Employees Hire an E-7 Worker? — Hiring Ratios, Employer Size, and Employment Contracts

Have a specific case?

Columns are general guidance. Individual cases are reviewed after consultation.

Request Consultation Free AI case check

An E-7 visa assessment does not end with the foreign candidate’s degree and work experience. Employers may also need to check the number of qualifying Korean employees, existing foreign workers, occupation-specific hiring ratios, and company-size requirements. This guide explains what Korean companies should review before hiring E-7-1 professionals, using examples involving web developers, application software developers, and designers.

Korea Visa & Permit Insights

Ethos Administrative Office Is Now Registered as a Ministry of Justice Immigration Application Agency

Connecting Foreign Visas, Corporate Setup, Investment, and Legal Support — Ethos × Insight Law Firm Partnership

[Foreign Employment Contracts and the E-7 Visa ⑦] Can a Company with Fewer Than Five Korean Employees Hire an E-7 Worker? — Hiring Ratios, Employer Size, and Employment Contracts

Most read

Get new columns by email

Have a specific case?

[Game & Digital Content Licensing Deep Dive ④] Do Game Updates Require a New Rating in Korea? — Content Modification Reports, Reclassification, and New Rating Applications

[Administrative Sanctions That Can Stop Your Business — Part 3] Waste Management Business Suspension and Permit Revocation in Korea: Why You Must Check the Grounds for the Sanction First

[Business Contracts: Is Signing Enough? ①] Website Development Contracts in Korea: Must You Pay the Balance Without Administrator Access?

[Game & Digital Content Licensing ③] Where Should You Apply for a Game Rating in Korea? — Steam, Google Play, App Store, and Adults-Only Games

[Foreign Employment Contracts and the E-7 Visa ⑥] Can You Obtain an E-7 Work Visa with an Unrelated Degree? — Education, Work Experience, and Job Duties

When Should You Apply for a Game Rating in South Korea? — CBT, Early Access, and Pre-Launch Compliance

[Employment Contracts and the E-7 Visa in Korea ⑤] 2026 E-7 Visa Salary Requirements: How Much Should Employers Pay?

「Advanced Guide to Game & Digital Content Licensing」① Do You Need Both Game Production and Game Distribution Registration in Korea?

[Korean Nonprofit Fundraising & Donations ②] Are Supporting Member Fees Really Donations? — Five Factors Considered by the Korean Supreme Court in Decision 2021Do16765

Construction Business Suspension in Korea for Registration Deficiencies — What to Check First When Technical Personnel or Capital Requirements Are Questioned

[Business Transfers and Regulatory Permits ⑥] The Contract Is Complete, but Succession to Operator Status Is Blocked — Where Did the Problem Occur?

[Employment Contracts and E-7 Visas for Foreign Employees ④] We Hired for “Overseas Sales” — Which E-7 Occupation Should We Apply Under?

[Business Transfers and Regulatory Permits ⑤] When Should You File for Succession to Operator Status, and What Do You Need to Prepare?

[Foreign Employment Contracts and E-7 Visas ③] What Should Be Included in a Foreign Employee’s Employment Contract? — Job Duties, Salary, Working Hours, Contract Period, and Workplace

[Business Transfers and Regulatory Permits ④] Can the New Owner Be Suspended for the Previous Owner’s Violation? — Business Transfers and Succession of Administrative Sanctions

Received a Korean Government Grant Repayment Notice? 5 Things to Check Before Writing a Response

If You Receive a Prior Notice of Business Suspension in Korea — 4 Things to Check Before Submitting Your Opinion

[Foreign Employment Contracts and E-7 Visas ②] E-7 Visa Employment Contract: What Should Employers Review Differently from a Standard Employment Contract?

D-8-4 or D-9: Which Visa Fits Your Business in Korea? — OASIS Visa Lecture for Foreign Entrepreneurs

[Business Transfers and Regulatory Permits ③] A Business Transfer Agreement Needs More Than the Goodwill Price — Regulatory Succession Clauses and Contract Terms to Review

[Foreign Employment Contracts and E-7 Visas ①] For an E-7 Visa, the Occupation Comes Before the Employment Contract

[Business Transfers and Regulatory Permits ②] Check This Before Paying Goodwill — Regulatory Due Diligence Before Acquiring a Business in Korea

Korean Nonprofit Donations Over KRW 10 Million? Check Your Articles of Incorporation Before Fundraising Registration

How to Draft a BAI Review Petition in Korea — From the 90/180-Day Filing Periods to Legal Arguments and Evidence

[Business Transfers and Regulatory Permits ①] Buying a Business Does Not Automatically Mean You Acquire Its Operating Permit — Understanding Succession to Operator Status

What Happens If a Foreign Delivery Rider in Korea Is Caught Without a License or Proper Insurance? — Even a 125cc Scooter Requires a Valid License

[Popular Culture and Arts Planning Business ⑥] Registration Is Not the End — Annual Compliance Checks Begin in November 2026

Can E-9 Foreign Workers Do Delivery Work After Their Regular Job?

[Popular Culture and Arts Planning Business ⑤] Already Running an Entertainment Agency Without Registration? — What Should You Check First?

Administrative Appeal vs. BAI Review Petition in Korea: Which Route Should You Choose First?

[Korean Government Support Agreement ①] Before Receiving the Grant, Review Your Business Plan Again — Agreements, Amendments, and Repayment Risks

What Documents Are Required to Register an Entertainment Agency in Korea? — From Experience Verification to the Final Application

Received a Deportation Order in Korea? Check the “7-Day” Deadline Before Focusing on “90 Days”

Does a One-Person Entertainment Agency or Freelance Manager Need Registration in Korea? — Why Business Structure Matters More Than Company Size

Can a Korean Nonprofit Sell Its Building with Only a Board Resolution? — What to Check Before Disposing of Basic Assets

Caught Doing Delivery Work in Korea — What Is the Difference Between a Penalty Payment, Departure Order, and Deportation Order?

[Beyond Administrative Appeals ②] The Board of Audit and Inspection Can Require an Agency to Cancel Its Disposition — Three Favorable Decisions Explained

Popular Culture Planning Business ②: Registration Without Two Years of Experience

Where Is Administrative Agent Fact Investigation Used? Administrative Fines, Deposits, Construction, Delivery, and Residence Verification

How Is a Fact Confirmation Certificate Used in Practice? 5 Common Cases in Contracts, Administrative Penalties, and Residence Verification

Why Can Only Administrative Agents Issue Fact Confirmation Certificates in Korea?

Contract Review Before Hiring a Lawyer: What an Administrative Agent Can Help With

What Is an Administrative Agent Fact Investigation in Korea? Legal Basis and Practical Uses

Contracts Are War ③ How to Check Whether Your Contract Has a Hidden Risk

Contracts Are War ② 3 Ways to Challenge Toxic Clauses After Signing

5 Toxic Contract Clauses You Should Check Before Signing in Korea

Cohabitation, De Facto Marriage, and Proof Documents in Korea: Notarization vs. Administrative Agent Fact Confirmation

Worked Without a Contract in Korea and Did Not Get Paid? Wage Theft and Unpaid Freelance Fees Explained

Can a De Facto Spouse Inherit in Korea? Property Division, Survivor Pension, and Cohabitation Agreements

Same-Sex Couples May Be Legally Protected in Korea: Life Partnership, Damages, and Cohabitation Agreements

Same-Sex Couples in Korea: What You Can Protect Through Documents Even When Marriage Registration Is Not Available

Cancellation of Nonprofit Establishment Approval in Korea: Check Your Bylaws, Reports, and Public Disclosure Before It Becomes a Crisis

Can a Nonprofit Corporation Earn Money? 5 Things to Check Before Starting a Revenue-Generating Business

Establishing a Nonprofit Corporation Is Not the End: Annual Reporting, Public Disclosure, and the 3-Year Rule for Contributed Assets

Is a Nonprofit Corporation the Only Answer? Civil Act Article 32 Constitutional Review and Nonprofit Entity Options in Korea

Establishing a Nonprofit Corporation in Korea ③ Post-Establishment Obligations: Annual Checklist to Avoid Cancellation of Approval

Establishing a Nonprofit Corporation in Korea ② Drafting Bylaws: Why Different Officers Ask for Different Things

Establishing a Nonprofit Corporation in Korea ① Finding the Competent Authority

One Missing Clause in Your Bylaws Can Void a Resolution Approved by 449 Members

When a Nonprofit Incorporation Application Is Rejected: How to Challenge Abuse of Discretion

OASIS 1 Lecture Review: What Foreign Tech Founders Need Before Applying for a Startup Visa

Korea Digital Nomad Visa FAQ: Income, Family, Taxes, Health Insurance, and What Happens After 3 Years

Korea Digital Nomad Visa, Part 2 — Timing Is Everything When Changing from B-1, B-2, or C-3 to F-1-D

Korea Digital Nomad Visa, Part 1 — What Remote Workers Must Check Before Applying

Regional Specialized Visa, Part 3 — How to Avoid Problems at the Immigration Filing Stage

Regional Specialized Visa, Part 2 — Local Government Recommendation Process and Common Traps

Regional Specialized Visa, Part 1 — F-2-R, E-7-4R, or F-4-R: Which Route Fits Your Situation?

Korea’s 2030 Immigration Reform, Part 3 — Why the Ministry of Justice Is Emphasizing Certified Immigration Application Agencies

OASIS Startup Visa Lecture Review — D-8, D-9, or D-10: Which Visa Fits Your Business in Korea?

Korea’s 2030 Immigration Reform, Part 2 — E-7-M / K-CORE Visa, a New Work Route for International Junior College Graduates

Korea’s 2030 Immigration Reform, Part 1 — What Happens When 39 Work Visa Categories Become 3 Levels?

K-STAR Visa Track for D-2 Students — F-2 Before Employment, F-5 After 3 Years

From H-2 to F-4: What Existing Working Visit Holders and Employers Must Check Now